Centrifugal pump for transferring solid particles from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone

Abstract

A centrifugal pump for transferring solid particles from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone comprises a centrifugal rotor and a housing that are each rotatable about a central axis. The rotor debouches particles into the interior of the housing and a screw conveyor is arranged in the housing for transporting particles along the inner surface of the housing to an outlet which is coaxial to the central axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A centrifugal pump for transferring solid particles from a low pressure zone into a high pressure zone, said pump comprising: an inlet and an outlet that are coaxial to a central axis;   a centrifugal rotor and a housing that are rotatable about the central axis;   said rotor centrifugally debouching particles into the interior of the housing; and   screw conveyor transport means arranged for rotation in the housing at a speed different from that of the housing for transporting particles over the inner surface of the housing to the outlet.   
     
     
       2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the inlet is arranged at one end of the housing and the outlet is arranged at another end of the housing. 
     
     
       3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the transport means consists of a screw conveyor arranged to cooperate with a frusto conical section of the housing and being rotatable about the central axis relative to the housing. 
     
     
       4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the centrifugal rotor is mounted on a shaft passing through the inlet and the outlet, the rotor and the shaft forming a single unit rotatable relative to the housing. 
     
     
       5. The pump of claim 4, wherein the screw conveyor is mounted on the shaft in such a way that the centrifugal rotor, the shaft and the screw conveyor form a single rotatable unit. 
     
     
       6. The pump of claim 1, wherein the centrifugal rotor is coupled to the housing in such a way that the rotor and the housing form a single rotatable unit. 
     
     
       7. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump contains liquid supply means for supplying liquid to the housing, so as to create during operation an annular centrifugal liquid seal in the housing at the circumference of the rotor. 
     
     
       8. The pump of claim 1, wherein the housing is arranged in a pressure resistant shell.